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The average salary for a senior software programmer is approximately $101,960 annually, translating to around $49 per hour. This figure varies based on factors such as location, experience, and industry.
In states like California and New York, salaries can significantly exceed the national average. For instance, California offers some of the highest salaries, reflecting the demand for skilled programmers in the tech industry.
Key cities for senior software programmers include San Francisco, Seattle, and New York, where opportunities are abundant, and compensation is competitive. By focusing on these locations, candidates can enhance their career prospects and salary potential.
Industries such as technology, finance, and healthcare often provide the most lucrative salaries for senior software programmers. Understanding these trends is crucial for job seekers aiming to maximize their earnings. Stay informed on the latest salary data and job openings to seize the best opportunities in this thriving field.
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The average senior software programmer salary in Washington, California, and Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior software programmer salary states are Kansas, Montana, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $128,311 | $61.69 |
| 2 | Virginia | $115,059 | $55.32 |
| 3 | Oregon | $114,722 | $55.15 |
| 4 | California | $119,501 | $57.45 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $105,167 | $50.56 |
| 6 | Vermont | $101,869 | $48.98 |
| 7 | Texas | $104,216 | $50.10 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $103,955 | $49.98 |
| 9 | Nevada | $107,771 | $51.81 |
| 10 | Indiana | $103,507 | $49.76 |
| 11 | Idaho | $102,063 | $49.07 |
| 12 | Georgia | $101,027 | $48.57 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $100,386 | $48.26 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $100,489 | $48.31 |
| 15 | Delaware | $98,829 | $47.51 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $101,991 | $49.03 |
| 17 | Maryland | $101,668 | $48.88 |
| 18 | Ohio | $99,346 | $47.76 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $99,623 | $47.90 |
| 20 | Arizona | $95,656 | $45.99 |
| 21 | Illinois | $97,796 | $47.02 |
| 22 | Utah | $92,143 | $44.30 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $91,045 | $43.77 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $92,521 | $44.48 |
| 25 | Michigan | $95,817 | $46.07 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $95,386 | $45.86 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $92,779 | $44.61 |
| 28 | New York | $97,173 | $46.72 |
| 29 | Colorado | $93,966 | $45.18 |
| 30 | Alaska | $94,757 | $45.56 |
| 31 | Iowa | $92,132 | $44.29 |
| 32 | Florida | $93,931 | $45.16 |
| 33 | Maine | $93,324 | $44.87 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $92,823 | $44.63 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $90,972 | $43.74 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $90,403 | $43.46 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $89,763 | $43.16 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $89,783 | $43.16 |
| 39 | Alabama | $87,425 | $42.03 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $90,890 | $43.70 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $89,617 | $43.09 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $89,813 | $43.18 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $88,244 | $42.42 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $86,083 | $41.39 |
| 45 | Kansas | $85,580 | $41.14 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $83,740 | $40.26 |
| 47 | Montana | $85,188 | $40.96 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $83,171 | $39.99 |
| 49 | Missouri | $86,772 | $41.72 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $84,792 | $40.77 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $84,804 | $40.77 |
The highest-paying cities for senior software programmers are Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, and Reston, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $129,394 | $62.21 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $127,322 | $61.21 |
| 3 | Reston, VA | $114,921 | $55.25 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $105,412 | $50.68 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $104,401 | $50.19 |
| 6 | Natick, MA | $103,953 | $49.98 |
| 7 | North Brunswick, NJ | $102,077 | $49.08 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $101,674 | $48.88 |
| 9 | Duluth, GA | $101,137 | $48.62 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $99,638 | $47.90 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $99,318 | $47.75 |
| 12 | Northbrook, IL | $97,989 | $47.11 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $97,418 | $46.84 |
| 14 | Jacksonville, FL | $96,811 | $46.54 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $95,682 | $46.00 |
| 16 | Lansing, MI | $95,486 | $45.91 |
| 17 | Minnetonka, MN | $88,226 | $42.42 |
A senior software programmer's salary ranges from $79,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $131,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $131,000 | $10,917 | $63 |
| 75th Percentile | $116,000 | $9,667 | $56 |
| Average | $101,960 | $8,497 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 10th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
The highest paying types of senior software programmers are senior systems software engineer, lead programmer, and senior software development engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Programmer Analyst | $71,563 | $5,964 | $34.41 | 248,781 |
| Software Analyst | $78,400 | $6,533 | $37.69 | 274,053 |
| Software Architect | $114,406 | $9,534 | $55.00 | 319,594 |
| Applications Programmer | $85,133 | $7,094 | $40.93 | 215,240 |
| Software Developer | $87,521 | $7,293 | $42.08 | 294,329 |
| Software Engineer | $100,260 | $8,355 | $48.20 | 339,938 |
Top companies hiring senior software programmers now:
Senior software programmer salaries at Uber Technologies and Nike are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior software programmer salary at companies like Matlen Silver and ISTS Worldwide, Inc. are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uber Technologies | $132,139 | $63.53 |
| 2 | Nike | $114,414 | $55.01 |
| 3 | Matlen Silver | $106,486 | $51.20 |
| 4 | ISTS Worldwide, Inc. | $103,988 | $49.99 |
| 5 | SSB | $102,806 | $49.43 |
| 6 | Maven | $102,795 | $49.42 |
| 7 | Bahwan CyberTek | $102,607 | $49.33 |
| 8 | The APP Solutions | $101,834 | $48.96 |
| 9 | Qualcomm | $101,797 | $48.94 |
| 10 | Intrepid Solutions and Services | $101,719 | $48.90 |
| 11 | Convene | $101,714 | $48.90 |
| 12 | ICSA Labs | $101,679 | $48.88 |
| 13 | MAP Communications | $101,584 | $48.84 |
| 14 | New Breed Corporate Services Inc | $101,433 | $48.77 |
| 15 | M.D. ON LINEINC | $101,421 | $48.76 |
| 16 | Cyberbridge International, Inc. | $101,355 | $48.73 |
| 17 | National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa | $101,016 | $48.57 |
| 18 | Cnsi | $100,928 | $48.52 |
| 19 | EastBanc Technologies | $100,915 | $48.52 |
| 20 | JNIT | $100,771 | $48.45 |
The average senior software programmer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $105,928 | $50.93 |
| 2 | Professional | $104,602 | $50.29 |
| 3 | Technology | $100,042 | $48.10 |
| 4 | Telecommunication | $98,821 | $47.51 |
| 5 | Health Care | $95,843 | $46.08 |
| 6 | Finance | $87,065 | $41.86 |
The average senior software programmer salary has risen by $18,929 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior software programmer earned $83,031 annually, but today, they earn $101,960 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for senior software programmers over the last decade.
Compare senior software programmer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare senior software programmer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $102,000 | $49.02 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $98,600 | $47.40 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $96,400 | $46.33 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $94,700 | $45.51 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $93,100 | $44.75 | +1.8% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri It Services LLC | Senior Software Programmer | Irving, TX | 02/21/2025 | $102,000 |
| Amazon | Senior Programmer Writer, Amazon Software Builder Experience (Asbx) | Austin, TX | 02/18/2025 | $96,900 |
| Amazon Development Center U.S., Inc. | Senior Programmer Writer, Amazon Software Builder Experience (Asbx) | Seattle, WA | 01/29/2025 | $96,900 |
| Bristol Bay Native Corp | SR. Software Programmer | San Antonio, TX | 10/24/2024 | $95,000 |
| Qualified Staffing | B28-IT Senior Software Programmer (Posting ID: 228545) | Livonia, MI | 10/15/2024 | $108,524 |
| Amazon | Senior Programmer Writer, Amazon Software Builder Experience (Asbx) | Seattle, WA | 09/28/2024 | $96,900 |
| MÉXico | Senior Programmer Writer, Amazon Software Builder Experience (Asbx) | Seattle, WA | 09/27/2024 | $96,900 |
| MÉXico | Senior Programmer Writer, Amazon Software Builder Experience (Asbx) | Seattle, WA | 09/16/2024 | $96,900 |
| Amazon | Senior Programmer Writer, Amazon Software Builder Experience (Asbx) | Seattle, WA | 09/10/2024 | $96,900 |
| Anjani Etech Solutions, Inc. | SR. Software Programmer Analyst | Edison, NJ | 08/12/2024 | $152,330 |
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